CHAPTER 2

2 Cor 2:1-4
1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice;
having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved,
but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

We included vs 1 with the last part of Chapter 1 because it is relevant to that chapter.
However, may I reiterate that Paul had decided not to make a 2nd journey to Corinth because
he was burdened with sorrow for their wrongdoing.

Paul restrained his personal visit to write them a letter concerning their church problems.
In the letter, Paul could more adequately deal with their problems without personal emotions
causing him to make them "sorry" with critical oration.

In the letter, Paul did address their difficulties and offered solutions.
At the time of his writing 1Cor., Paul suffered much heartache.
His intention was to make them all know how much he loved them.
Yet, he did quite boldy address their concerns.

5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

The words "if any" are more specifically denoted as "he" in the second clause.
Paul intentionally did not name the person.
He could probably have named SEVERAL!

Every church has its problems.
And every church has problem children!
Some cause "grief" to the entire body of Christ.

However, we cannot "overcharge," or accuse "all"!

When those WITHOUT Christ see ONE Christian doing wrong, they accuse the WHOLE church!

Yet, those who are IN CHRIST must not make the same mistake!

Just as Paul did, we are to pray for, and deal with others who do wrong individually!
The main point of praying for and dealing with them is to bring RECONCILIATION!
Remember, EACH Christian is charged with the "ministry of reconcilation" (See 2Cor. 5:18).

2 Cor 2:6-9
6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such
a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

May I reiterate, Paul never mentions the man's name.
But we are to understand that he is referring to one person.
See 1Cor. 5:1.

Under Paul's direction, the man was removed from the church.
ALL the church members had a vote in accomplishing this.

Paul now says that punishment was "sufficient."
That punishment exhibited:
1) That the offense was indeed evil;
2) That the church intended to remain true to God;

But now, Paul asks the church to exhibit their love for him by forgiving and comforting him.
This is to be done so that the person would not be overcome with sorrow.

We must indeed "be obedient" to God in ALL things!
They had done the right thing by confronting the sinner and the sin.
Now they must do the right thing by showing a love that FORGIVES!

I'm assuming here, that the man had repented, and shown evidence of it.
Therefore, Paul is giving instruction to bring him back into the church
(they had excommunicated him).
And, they were to show forgiveness as God showed forgiveness for THEIR sin.

One thing, the church of this age should understand.
Church discipline should be real.
But, church forgiveness upon repentance should also be real!

10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

Unity is the topic of this verse.
If the church forgave the man, then Paul would also.
If Paul forgave someone is was because of Christ.

THIS is what forgiveness is all about.
It does NOT necessarily provide satisfaction to SELF!
It provides satisfaction to our LORD!

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Satan is certainly not sitting around doing nothing when the church is bickering!
He is crafty!
He will USE what we do to cause strife.

So don't be "ingnorant of his devices!"
Be aware that he is ALWAYS lurking around trying to cause dissention!

Satan uses dissention to destroy churches!!

12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence
into Macedonia.

These 2 verses further explain Paul's love for the church.
He sent the letter (1Corinthians), but had not heard back from them through Titus.

Paul had gone on to Troas, and began to preach.
God caused "a door to be opened" so that people received the Gospel.

And, though Paul was seeing people saved, his person was troubled for the church at Corinth.

So, he left the successful preaching in Troas and went to Macedonia, where he hoped to find Titus,
and hear how the church at Corinth was doing.

To what lengths are you will to go that you may insure your church of unity?

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour
of his knowledge by us in every place.

Though Paul was distraught about the church in Corinth;
though he was disturbed about leaving a successful preaching in Troas; though he was concerned about Titus; still he found successful preaching in Macedonia!

When we seek to do God's will, He causes us to "triumph in Christ!"
God always manifests a "savour" (aroma) around His working disciples!

15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.
And who is sufficient for these things?

Those who determine to do God's will will be a "sweet savour of Christ" because
their actions are acceptable to God!!
Paul is not saying that the working disciple of Christ is a sweet savour TO
both the saved and those who refuse to surrender to Christ.
He is saying that God surrounds the working disciple with that aroma because
their actions are pleasing to HIM!

Those who refuse the Gospel receive a "savour" from the Christian worker
that is "death unto death!"
Physical death is certain to ALL unless Jesus returns first.
Spiritual (eternal) death comes by refusing Christ.
When an unpenitent sinner hears the Gospel in sincerity, they are confronted
with God's Holy Spirit convicting them of sin and convincing them of eternal death.
Even though the working Christian is emiting an aroma of pleasing God,
the unpenitent sinner actually receives a repugnant aroma because of his/her own sin!

But those that receive the Gospel, and surrender to Christ receive a "sweet savour" because they are repentant, and are glad to receive eternal LIFE through Christ!!

Take note of that last statement: "And who is sufficient for these things?"
Who can actually preach the Gospel, without feeling INsufficient for the task?
Who can actually preach the Gospel, without feeling UNWORTHY of the task?
And, who can actually preach the Gospel, without feeling the NEED of God's GRACE?!

NONE!

17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God,
in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Those who preach the Gospel of Christ in sincerity are not like the "many"
who pervert the Gospel and "corrupt the Word of God!"

When one presents the Gospel to another, one feels a deep sense of responsibility.
That responsibility is to "speak the truth in LOVE!" (Eph. 4:15)

May "corrupt" or dilute the Word of God to DEFRAUD people!
1 John 4:1 says, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

To "try the spirits" of men, test them with the Word of God!
For instance, in our present world;
would a REAL person of God say that homosexualism is NOT sin?
God's Word expressly speaks of it as sin.

Now, one can be forgiven of that sin (as any other sins) by true repentance.
And, when they are forgiven, they WILL BE CHANGED!!
(See 2Cor. 5:17)

When a sincere Christian speaks the Gospel, knowing God's eye is ALWAYS on him/her
then they actually speak "in Christ!"

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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